Grammy and Tony-award winning composer, Galt MacDermot is best known for the music he wrote for the Broadway score of HAIR and Two Gentlemen of Verona.  He garnered his first Grammy for the song, African Waltz, in 1960.  His work spans the gamut of performing arts: musicals, ballet scores, film scores, chamber music, the Anglican liturgy, orchestral, poetry, drama accompaniments, band repertory and opera.   Film scores include Rhinoceros, Cotton Comes to Harlem, Mistress and HAIR.  He draws inspiration from a wealth of musical styles, crossing the boundaries of jazz, folk, funk, gospel, reggae, and classical styles.

The son of a Canadian diplomat, Galt was born and raised in Montreal.  He received a Bachelor of Music from Cape Town University, South Africa.  Based on his traditional training, he writes all of his own arrangements.  He moved to New York in 1964 and three years later, wrote the music for the landmark Broadway production HAIR which he later adapted for the screen.

More recently, Galt’s music has also found a new venue with rap artists who find his rhythms perfect for setting their lyrics, as in Run DMC’s Grammy award-winning Down With The King, and Billboard’s top chart-buster, Woo-Hah!! Got You All In Check by Busta Rhymes.

MacDermot formed the New Pulse Band in 1979, which features his original music played by some of the world’s best musicians.  The new Broadway production of HAIR marks the 40th Anniversary of the original, but is also a culmination of 40 years in which HAIR has played in all corners of the world.  Mr. MacDermot is involved with the new production and has incorporated the New Pulse Band into the Broadway stage band.  HAIR was recently nominated for 8 Tony awards. HAIR received the 2009 Tony Award for Best Revival of a Musical and the 2009 Drama Desk Award for Best Revival. Galt will be inducted into the 2009 Songwriter’s Hall of Fame.